Location: Shanghai, China.

Architect: BNJN design.

The design of GTJA’s headquarters was focused on understanding the client’s corporate culture and marrying the spatial design to both the company’s external image and internal spirit.

The design aimed to break away from the rigid stature of traditional Chinese companies and open up new possibilities within an international business context. The ground floor lobby was modernized to become more open and adorned with marble, while the classical tripartite wall was inverted and further delineated by metallic strips, integrating Eastern and Western cultures. The use of different material themes maps out the different areas of the lobby, creating a seamless progression from the waiting room to the hallway, then to the lounge. The designers utilized inexpensive stone with embedded lights to create a more elegant surface that supplements the flow of natural light already present. All the design elements present are bespoke, including the design for office furniture, VIS, and even the banisters by the staircases.

The designers further appreciate the importance of a comprehensive and efficient management system that lowers the cost as much as possible. Sandstone is applied to most of the walls to indicate a solid, stable, and trustworthy image for the financial company. Metallic panel strips are further added to provide an unexpected visual element. Using a palette of various fabrics, leather, and wooden materials unifies the whole building while highlighting the individual features of different sections. The design of the GTJA headquarters has the following highlights that meet the functional needs of a company in an international context. The north wing of the reception hall enhances the corporate image of a large-scale financial company through the use of solid components with an elegant touch within the entire space. The common areas on the second and third floor have been modified to enhance the workers’ experience while resting. On the typical floors, all spaces have been opened up to promote communication between employees, thus improving overall efficiency and creativity at work, that will eventually culminate to a single corporate cultural change.

Photo credit: Zhu Hai, Xue Yutao, Hu Wenjie, Seth.